Victim Support Scotland (VSS) is the lead voluntary organisation in Scotland helping people affected by crime. It provides emotional support, practical help and essential information to victims, witnesses and others affected by crime. The service is free, confidential and is provided by volunteers through a network of community based victim and youth justice services and court based witness services. The services to victims and witnesses provided by VSS are available as soon as and for as long as victims/witnesses wish.
As part of the NCJA Action Plan for 2011/12, VSS has agreed to:
- Research the feasibility of a Victim Issues Group which will take relevant issues to the NCJA’s Area Plan Implementation Group;
- Engage a National Project Manager who will support the research and modelling of a new national support service for young people affected by crime; and
- Offer victim awareness training to other partner agencies.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is also a statutory partner of the NCJA, and provides a Victim Information and Advice service to certain victims, witnesses and, in some cases, next of kin.
SACRO, another partner of the NCJA, provides Restorative Justice and Community Based Reparation services which give victims of crime the opportunity to have a say in how they would like the harm caused to be addressed (as an alternative to court prosecution of the offender). In addition, theTalk After Severe Crime Service provides victims of a severe crime with the opportunity to communicate safely with the person responsible for the crime.
The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration provides a Victim Information Service to victims of youth crime and also supports young people who are victims of crime.
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